STUART SILCOX
PHOTOGRAPHY

The ancient Greeks considered Delphi to be the navel or centre of the world; see image 7 for the purported "Belly Button of the World" from which, if one travelled in a straight line, you would return to this same spot. So the ancient Greeks believed the world was spherical.

During my stay in Athens, I took a day trip by bus north to the town of Kalambaka. From there, I joined a guided tour of the amazing Meteora Monasteries, Greek Orthodox religious retreats perched atop the surrounding mountains. Dramatic scenery and an incredible history. Highly recommend visiting if you are in Greece.

On my second full day in Athens, I walked around the ruins of the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Olympic Stadium for the first modern Olympic Games . Also, I climbed Ardittos Hill for great views of the stadium, the Acropolis and Athens. Finishing with a walk through Zappeion Garden and the Conference Centre.

From there, I walked to the Agora, the ancient Greek meeting place in Athens, which features the Temple of Hephaestus. The Orthodox Church on the site is more recent. From there, I walked to the Agora, the ancient Greek meeting place in Athens, which features the Temple of Hephaestus.

Getting out at Monastiraki Metro Station, I found myself in the Greek Capital's tourist hub. Transitioning from a long-haul international flight to this high-energy location was a bit of a challenge. Undeterred, I decided to take some photos with my compact camera, rather than unpack my usual setup.

For my last full day in Malta, I visited the preserved 1980 film set for the Robert Altman-directed "Popeye". Located in a coastal inlet, the site has been maintained as a sort of quirky tourist theme park.

I took a ferry from the main island to Malta's second-largest island, Gozo. A bus journey from the ferry port up to a high point on Gozo, the main city of Victoria (Ir-Rabat Għawdex).

Formerly a medieval fortress located in central Malta, perched on a hill giving all-round views of the island, is Mdina. Known as the silent city because vehicle access is restricted to locals only.

A selection of colour stills from the Three Cities of Malta - Vittoriosa (Birgu), Senglea (Isla), and Cospicua (Bormla). Also included are views of Valletta and the Grand Harbour.

Some black-and-white captures from Malta. These are shots of Valletta, the Grand Harbour, and the Three Cities - Vittoriosa (Birgu), Senglea (Isla), and Cospicua (Bormla)

I dropped off my luggage at my accommodation, which overlooked the Grand Harbour, and took a stroll around the Maltese capital. Here are some shots of my first impressions of Valletta.

The final stop on my Sicily 2017 trip was the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, on the southern side of the island. This site was part of an ancient Greek settlement with many ruins, including the largely intact Temple of Concordiae final stop on my Sicily 2017 trip was the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, on the southern side of the island. This site was part of an ancient Greek settlement with many ruins, including the largely intact Temple of Concordia.

On the slope of Mt Caputo, overlooking the Palermo Valley, the former Norman stronghold has a world-renowned cathedral. The town was developed by the Norman kings for hunting.

A walk from the centre of Palermo to the harbour and returning through the back streets.

A walk from the old town down to the beach and Bella Isola, where a few brave souls were swimming on a crisp spring morning

On my first walk around, I encountered Mormons, markets, mobility scooters, the omnipresent Mt Etna and more.

This site includes the ancient limestone quarries of Latomie del Paradiso. There are also ancient ruins, including amphitheatres from the ancient Greek and Roman periods.

The name Ortigia comes from the Ancient Greek órtyx, or "quail". The city was a Greek colony, also home to Archimedes, the famous mathematician.

I was nearing the end of my 2018 trip to Italy, and the weather was warm. These are shots from another walk around Rome. Romans love a fountain, so that's where I begin.

I was there to walk the famous Appian Way, an ancient Roman road that connected the capital to southern Italy.